 Kevin Kochersberger with the Vertical Four engine during dynamometer tests | « Previous | Page 2 of 4 | Next » Frank Coffyn's engine, a 1910 Wright vertical four engine, was tested in 2001 in a dynamometer at Delphi Labs in Rochester, New York, in cooperation with the Rochester Institute of Technology. In this case, what was being tested was not a reproduction, but rather, how well an original had survived over nearly a century of storage. The tests measured all aspects of the engine's performance, which ran over six hours at full speed. The engine was evaluated for emissions, compression, fuel/air mixture ratios, and efficiency. Not surprisingly, the engine does not operate at the standards of performance we expect of today's engines. It is not very efficient, and consumes about twice the amount of fuel of modern engines of comparable size. But it is remarkable and innovative in many other ways. The Wright brothers needed a reliable power plant, and added many features to the engine to keep it running smoothly over long periods. They kept it simple, mechanically speaking: no carburetor, automatic intake valves, no throttle. They had holes cut in the cylinders to release extra hot exhaust gases, helping to cool the engine. By intentionally detuning the engine, a significant gain in longevity was achieved. |
